We can examine the table all we want, but that’s not a fun exercise week in, week out.

Instead, let’s look at where the teams in the top six should be, relative to the strength of their squad.

First, let’s just get Manchester City out of the way and say that its huge lead in the league is well-deserved. City has a world-class manager guiding a group stocked with world-class players. Anything less than a Premier League title would surely be a disappointment for this side and now Pep Guardiola’s big challenge is in Champions League.

City’s neighbours, Manchester United, have a class manager and a big, deep squad with a ton of talent in it, but should probably be a bit better off. The addition of Alexis Sanchez hasn’t done much and we’ve seen just how bad Paul Pogba can be at times. If this team was humming and had some consistency at CB, it would likely be a bit closer than 16 points off the lead.

Liverpool sits third and you could argue that it has the fewest world-class players of any team in the top six. When you get past the strike force of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, there aren’t a lot of players that are likely to be lighting it up at the World Cup this summer. Emre Can, Georginio Wijnaldum and Virgil Van Dijk are all good players, but will likely never be including in any season-ending best XI lists. It really shows you how that amazing attack is keeping the Reds near the top of the league.

A big question I’ve been wondering lately is if Tottenham is overrated or underrated?

This is a side with world-class talent all over the pitch from the attacking trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen to the centreback duo of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, to Hugo Lloris between the sticks, Spurs can put out a starting XI to compete with anyone in the Premier League. So shouldn’t it be higher than fourth place? It’s something to think about.

Then there’s the defending champs, Chelsea. With basically the same side as last season, more was expected of the Blues. Eden Hazard has been good, but not transcendent, and the defence has taken a step back. This is a squad that clearly couldn’t deal with the championship hangover

As for Arsenal, well, we have another category for the Gunners lower down.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

It’s kind of odd that a man that was player of the month twice last season is only the fourth player you think of when talking about Tottenham’s attack.

But behind the likes of Kane, Alli and Eriksen, Son Heung-min is capable of putting on a great show.

The South Korean bagged a brace this weekend to bring his total for the season to double digits with 10. That’s actually better than Alli and Eriksen and fourth among all midfielders.

Never count out Son because you never know when he’s going to crop up and bag a goal or two.

ARSENE’S CORNER OF SHAME

How low can Arsenal go?

This week, it was another pathetic effort in a loss to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls potted two goals in 26 minutes and Arsene Wenger’s boys looked more like the squad in the bottom half of the table.

The calls of “Wenger out” are getting louder once again, though who knows if the board at the Emirates will actually heed it.

Rio Ferdinand, an English footballing legend who is now a pundit, says this is the worst Gunners team he has ever seen. I’m sure there’s a little bit of hyperbole in that statement, but you’d be hard-pressed to prove him wrong.

Arsenal is now closer to seventh place (five points) than fifth (eight). It’s looking more and more likely that the Gunners will need to win Europa League to get back into Champions League next season. But even that will be tough with a set against AC Milan looming.

So will this be the end of Wenger? Will the fans finally get their wish? Stay tuned.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

How insane is it that only six of 20 teams have a positive goal differential? The only other of the top five leagues in Europe to have that few teams is France. Spain and Italy both have 10 teams in the positive and Germany has eight … Good catch by the ref on Ashley Williams’ red card. It would’ve been very easy for the ref to miss that high elbow in the box on a free kick … Manchester City set a record with 902 successful passes against Chelsea. That’s the most ever in a Premier League match and more than 10 per minute. City had 10 more shots than Chelsea and 71% possession. It also completed the sweep of the defending champs for the season … Ilkay Gundogan also set a passing record, completing 174 in the game. He’s just another piece of Pep’s outstanding squad that could easily start anywhere else in the league … Saed Kolasinac should see a retroactive suspension for his shoulder to the head of a Brighton player that didn’t even get a whistle. What’s the point of looking at games again if we don’t call out dangerous play? … Riyad Mahrez played the hero for Leicester after being the villain during the transfer window. They don’t come much later than the 97th-minute game-tying goal he scored … The Swans got back to their winning ways with a demolition of Irons … In our weekly update on West Bromwich Albion’s hopes for survival, it’s still looking doomed. Another week, another loss … The Saints and Potters got a point each in their 0-0 draw, so neither get help in relegation battle … It wasn’t such a nice return to Anfield for Rafa Benitez. There are still some fond memories for the ex-Liverpool manager, but the Reds didn’t take it easy on him … Minutes after texting a United fan “Mourinho out,” United began its thrilling comeback. Of course, this is a team that shouldn’t need to come back from two goals down against lowly Crystal Palace, but at least we got to see one of the few times that Mourinho’s United side was actually exciting to watch.

THE LAST WORD

Antonio Conte fired back at pundits for criticizing his 1-0 loss to City, and he’s totally right to do so.

While you can criticize his players for their lackadaisical “pressing” of City, Conte’s side played to defend and only lost 1-0. Compare that to Arsenal playing more open an loose – and losing two 3-0 games in a few days – and it’s a better result for the Chelsea.

Conte knew that his side isn’t made to play that type of wide-open football so he parked the bus. It didn’t work, but it was a sound strategy.

He gave his side its best chance to win and that’s what matters. Nowhere in the rulebook does it say you have to play attractive football. If Conte had stolen a point, the praise would be pouring in. Instead, he’s heckled and without good reason.

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